Seventh annual ALS bake sale set for Dec. 14

This 2014 Polaris Indy 550 will be on display near the Spring Valley Community Center on Dec. 14. Raffle tickets for the snowmobile are $20 each and will be drawn on Feb. 1. SUBMITTED PHOTOS

The seventh annual bake sale fundraiser benefitting the ALS Association will once again be held at the Spring Valley Community Center from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, as part of the Christmas on Historic Broadway festivities.

Baked goods and monetary donations will be accepted beginning at 8:30 that morning.

Sam and Gloria Blakeslee continue to organize the event in honor of their son, Wes, who was diagnosed with ALS in October 1998 and died on Sept. 30, 2003. The proceeds help support research for a cure and the ALS Association, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota chapter.

"This is a very important piece of one's continued support. Without monies for research, there will never be a cure, and that can't be allowed to happen. Somewhere, sometime, everyone has been touched by a devastating disease and ALS is no different," Gloria explained.

ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease as it is more commonly known, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.

The ALS Association provides people with ALS programs through the progression of the disease as well as support. These programs include an equipment loan pool for durable medical equipment, respite program for full-time family caregivers, and augmentative communication devices and electronic aids to maintain independence as the disease progresses.

The ALS Association has a staff of professionals who can answer questions regarding the disease or assist with equipment setup as the need arises. These people maintain a level of kindness and compassion when they are contacted and are most helpful in every way. The personal support and services by the ALS Association are very important to people with ALS and their families.

This year's fundraiser includes raffles for a 2013 Polaris Ranger Crew 500, a 2013 Polaris Ranger 500 Magnetic Metallic LE and a 2014 Polaris Indy 550, which will be on display near the community center. All three machines have been donated to the ALS Association by Polaris Industries.

The winner of the snowmobile will be drawn on Saturday, Feb. 1. The drawings for the Rangers will be held on the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 29. The winners and one guest each will be invited to the Black Woods Blizzard Tour Celebration Dinner on Saturday, Feb. 1.

The Black Woods Blizzard Tour, for which the motto is "Never Surrender," is a three-day snowmobile ride and fundraiser for the ALS Association chapter. It is the single largest snowmobile fundraising event in the world, according to its website.

The Blakeslees are looking forward to another successful event and encourage area residents to show their support by visiting the bake sale, providing baked goods or making monetary donations. For those wishing to make a donation with a check, write "Blakeslee Fundraising Event" in the memo.